Sound producing device for toys



March 11, 1941, b, ALLEN 2,234,837

SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE FOR TOYS Original Filed June 6 1939 IN VENT OR.

A TTORNEYS Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SGUND PR'UDUCHNG DEVICE FOR TOYS necticut (lriginal application June 6, 1939, Serial No.

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sound producing devices for toys.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel toy sound producing mechanism, which is adapted to emit sounds corresponding to the natural noises or sounds produced by the animal imitated.

Another object .of the invention is to provide a simple and novel construction and arrangement for producing noises in imitation of the c ackling sounds emitted by fowl or the like, said sound producing mechanism being adapted to be incorporated into toys of the Wheeled type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel toy sound producing mechanism which can be operated by revolving the wheels of the toy in which it is incorporated or may be operated by independent means when not embodied in a wheeled toy.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth in the following description and drawing, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of the invention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the sound producing device incorporated in a wheeled toy, said toy being broken away for the convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the reference letter I designates the base of any type of wheeled toy. A substantially channel-shaped axle supporting member 2, having the longitudinal ribs 2a formed therein, is secured to the bottom of base I. Member 2 is formed with a vertical offset portion I4 running longitudinally along a substantial part of the middle portion of member 2. Said member 2 is secured to the bottom of base I by rivets l3 or the like. A shaft t is rotatably mounted in the vertical extensions of member 2, said shaft substantially passing therethrough. Wheels 6 are rot-atably secured at each end of shaft 4.

An oval shaped opening 3 is formed in the central part of offset portion I4, the purpose of said opening or slot will be hereinafter explained.

The sound producing mechanism comprises a drum or diaphragm member I5, having a continuous peripheral side wall I. Said drum fits snug- 55 ly within a recess hollowed into base I of the Divided and this application December 5, 1939, Serial No.

screws (or. re ind toy and is retained therein either by frictional fit of side wall I of the diaphragm, or by being cemented or glued therein. Depending substantially from the center of diaphragm I5 is a resilient or vibrating reed member 8, said reed member being secured to the diaphragm by means of grommet 9 passing through the horizontal arm of the reed and the diaphragm, the opposite end of said reed member depending Vertically.

The reed vibrating mechanism comprises a disc member Ill held rotationally rigid to shaft 4 by means of a key 5. The peripheral edge of disc II] consists of dormant intervals I hand reedvibrating intervals II; the dormant intervals being radially situated on said disc so that when they are in a position directly below the free end of reed 3, they do not contact therewith. Each of reed vibrating intervals II consists of a series of serrations l2, said serrations being of such a distance from the center of disc It] so that when any interval II is in a position directly below the free end of reed 8, the summits of serrations I2 are above the lower end of said reed.

In order to operate the sound producing mechanism, the toy is pulled along the ground, thus rotating wheels 6, which in turn rotates shaft 4 and disc II]. When dormant areas It of disc It pass below the free end of reed 8, no sound is produced. However, when the serrated areas II pass below reed 8 they contact with the free end of said reed thus causing the same to vibrate,

and a sound or a series of sounds is produced.

The principal novelty of the sound producing mechanism is the series of dormant and reed vibrating areas along the outer periphery of disc I0. With this arrangement, many novel combinations of sounds may be produced simulating the cackles, calls and cries of many different animals.

There are many factors upon which the sound to be produced depends. In the first place, the size, shape and material from which diaphragm I5 is made is an important factor. Said diaphragm may be made of cardboard, thin metal, or any other suitable material. Secondly, the construction, location and material of reed B iniluences the sound to be produced. It is. obvious that a long, thin, flexible reed will cause a different sound to be produced than a short rigid reed. Finally, the shape of disc II] is a very important factor. The length of the dormant and vibration producing areas determines the duration of the sounding and silent intervals. The size and shape of serrations I2 aifects the type of sound produced. While serrations I2 have been shown as all of the same size (see Fig. 2), it is obvious that these serrations may be varied in size and shape, thus producing a variation in the sound emitted during a single rotation of disc I0. By varying the lengths of vibration producing areas l2, it is possible to simulate the cackling of a hen or rooster or any other fowl, bird or animal.

The sound producing mechanism need not necessarily be operated in conjunction with a wheeled toy. It may be made as a separate unit and operated by any actuating mechanism, for example a crank, or hand lever or the like.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown but it is obvious that numerous omissions, alterations and changes may be made without departing from its spirit.

This is a division of my application Serial No. 277,569, filed on June 6, 1939.

I claim:

1. A sound producing mechanism of the character described comprising a substantially rigid body, a diaphragm inserted in said rigid body, a reed having one of its ends secured to said diaphragm, a disc having a series of alternate serrated and alternate smooth portions along its peripheral edge, the free end of the reed contacting the serrated portions of said disc when the latter is caused to be rotated.

2. A sound producing mechanism of the character described comprising a substantially rigid body, a diaphragm inserted in said rigid body, a reed having one of its ends secured to said diaphragm and depending vertically therefrom, a disc having a plurality of alternate serrated areas and a plurality of alternate indented smooth areas along its peripheral edge, said disc being so situated relative to the reed so that when said disc is rotated only the serrated areas of said disc contact the free end of said reed.

3. A toy comprising, in combination, a substantially rigid body having a recess in the base thereof, a diaphragm secured in said recess, a reed having one of its ends secured to said diaphragm, a shaft rotat-ably mounted below said diaphragm, wheels rotatably mounted on each end of said shaft, a disc having a series of alternate serrated portions and alternate smooth portions along its peripheral edge rotationally rigid with said shaft, the free end of the reed contacting the serrated portions of said disc when the wheels of the toy are rotated.

4. A toy comprising, in combination, a substantially rigid body having a recess in the base thereof, a diaphragm having a continuous upstanding wall secured in said recess, a reed having one of its ends secured to said diaphragm, an axle supporting member secured to the base of the toy below said diaphragm, said axle supporting member having a central opening therein, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support member, wheels rotatably mounted on each end of said shaft, a disc having a plurality of alternate serrated areas and a plurality of alternate smooth areas along its peripheral edge rotationally rigid with said shaft, the free end of the reed passing through the opening in the supporting member and contacting the serrated areas of said disc when the wheels of the toy are rotated.

5. A toy as claimed in claim 4 in which a portion of the axle supporting member is ofiset.

6. A sound producing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the distance between the center of the disc and the serrated portions is greater than the distance between the center of the disc and the smooth portions.

7. A sound producing mechanism of the character described comprising a substantially rigid body, a diaphragm inserted in said rigid body, a reed having one of its ends secured to said diaphragm, a disc having a plurality of alternate dormant intervals and alternate reed vibrating intervals, each of said reed vibrating intervals comprising a series of serrations, said disc being so situated relative to the reed that when the disc is rotated only the serrations of the reed vibrating intervals of the disc contact the free end of said reed.

8. A sound producing mechanism as claimed in claim 7 in which the summits of the serrations of any one reed vibrating interval are above the lower end of the reed when said vibrating interval is in a position directly below the free end of said reed.

9. A sound producing mechanism of the character described comprising a substantially rigid body, a diaphragm inserted in said rigid body, a reed having one of its ends secured to said diaphragm, a reed vibrating member having alternating active and dormant areas, each of said active areas having a plurality of extensions adapted to strike the free end of said reed in short intervals, and means mechanically insulated from said diaphragm by said rigid body to actuate said reed vibrating member.

HAROLD D. ALLEN. 

